Mike Clark in Scotland - Days 10 & 11

Yesterday I fought the links of Tain and it was the winner. Greens and fairways were fast and very firm and I didn’t have my best stuff. I did what I normally do when things don’t go my way and headed to find a driving range. While every course has a warm up practice net, none have a practice range. I have found a nice range outside of Dornoch that an enterprising farmer has set up in his sheep field and I’ve visited it twice already. At 6 pounds for a large bucket it’s still pretty reasonable and it’s the only option around. 

I started this morning off with an omelette and my sights on making the 2 hour drive north to Wick. This is another James Braid course set right on the coast and amongst the tall hay covered dunes. The drive up was magnificent with some of the most beautiful scenery imaginable. No billboards, no trash along the road, just ocean views, rolling hills, ancient cottages and stone fences separating farmers flocks of sheep. Story book stuff.

Wick is a true links course with 9 out and 9 back in.

That outward 9 was a real confidence booster as every hole was downwind adding 30-50 yards onto every bouncing running drive. I turned in even par after a missed heartbreaking short putt on #8 cost me a red number side.

Then turning straight into the wind on 10, this course showed its teeth. Every hole was 2-3 clubs longer into the green. There was not a weak hole on this back nine and I cruised to a smooth plus 5 on the back. Despite my best effort and modern equipment, I found myself with 150-200 yards into most holes. The course remains virtually unchanged from a design standpoint from when Braid laid it out. Obviously, conditions today are a world apart from 150 years ago. I just can’t see players back then making too many pars.

 

This course was definitely worth the drive. If it was in located in the states, it would be $250 plus to play and busy as can be. Here the full green fee was 60 pounds and I was most likely the only guest to play today.

 

No set plan for tomorrow but I’ll stick close to home I think.